Sailing New Caledonia - First 30 days Places we have been

Easy Tiger Sailing Adventures – New Caledonia

First 30 Days – The Places We have been

1.     Noumea – Baie l’Orphelinat. Our Arrival point, dropping anchor here on the 28^th May in about 10 metres of water.  Among half a dozen other rally boats, we had to anchor outside the “official” area that Anchoring is allowed. We fully expected to be told to move on from but the call never came, thank goodness. Also we were lucky that we had left before any westerly wind came in as the others reported that made it pretty horrible. This bay is behind a headland. On the other side of the headland is the Port Moselle Marina. It was a fair old hike in the dinghy. The bonus was that for a fee, you could securely tie up your dinghy right at the marina office from where it is only a modest walk into the main city which has all the shops and services you could possibly want.

Baie l'orliphant  is crowded and rolly.

2.     Baie De Prony – Baie Kaoris – (Anchored in 10 metres mud and rubble). After several days in Noumea and after attending the Down Under Go West Rally Arrival party which was a hoot, we headed south to Baie De Prony. As far upstream as we could get there is a beautiful bay named Baie de Kaoris. We sat there for a few days  with another rboat called Aqualibrium, in a millpond, surround by red hills, waterfalls and mangroves. There were tris to the hot springs, walk trails and several waterfalls to climb to the top of. We even managed to catch a couple of large Mud Crabs.

The fishing was good and the crabbing even better at Baie Kaoris

3.     Isle De Pins – Kuto Bay (4 metres in sand)– Having visited this bay via a cruise ship several years ago, it was exciting to think that Leanne and I had now sailed there on our own catamaran. There is a beautiful beach to walk, there is a small bar/restaurant and a short walk away, there are two shops selling basic necessities.

4.     Isle De Pins- Gadji (anchored in 2 metres of sand)- How lovely it is to arrive in the spectacular GAdji after a 2 hour trip that is not for the feint hearted. After weaving our way through (and over) reef and dodging bombies we foud perhaps one of the nost spectacular anchorages we have ever been in. The blue of the water, the rock formations (like Mushrooms), the snorkeling in the outer bay and the bonfires on the beach made this place really stand out as special.

Thanks to Clint Wooler for this great Drone shot of the Gadji Anchorage.

5.     Isle De Pins – Baie De Oro – (Anchore in 2 metres of sand) – All I can say about this anchorage is …wow. It was like we drove Easy Tiger straight into  a post card.  With tall straight pine trees, palms and ferns growing in the limestone that has been undercut by the bluest of waters, this lace was superb. The Meridien resort is right there on the beach plus a short walk up the dry river bed is the natural pools, where thousands of tame fish are happy to come up to you and say hi as you snorkel by.

6.     Isle Mato -  (Anchored in 8 metres sand an coral) – Anchoring in a trench between the reefs means there is no swell. A short dinghy at high tide to the actual island then a steep trek (maybe a climb) up to the top revealed some spectacular views of New Caledonia’s  southern lagoon. It would have been better to be there on a day when the weather was better.

The Crew From Lickety Split and Easy Tiger at Baie De Oro

Baie De Oro form Le Meridien Resort

7.     Isle Ouen, Baie Ua – (anchored in 5 metres sand) Probably not the prettiest place we have been but really good place to sit out the westerly. Still has palm trees and beach with steep red hills behind formed a nice backdrop, the water a dark green. We had bonfires on the beach until our camp site was taken over by locals with tents etc… Hope they appreciated the wood we stacked for them.

Loves a campfire, the first mate

The captain's ready for marshmallows!

8.     Baie De Prony – Ilse Casy – (On a mooring) This place was spectacularly pretty. Big palms and yellowish sand beach, with a jetty poking out to green tinged clear, clear water. A big spotted codfish swimming underneath our boat, and the sole occupant of the island, a dog named Moose, to keep us entertained.

Leanne (Easy Tiger) Julie (San Souci) and Amanda (Bossa Nova)  with Moose.

9.     Baie De Prony – Baie Carenage – (anchored in 10 metres mud) Around the bend from Kaoris, this bay has walking trails another hot springs and at least five rivers running into it. From here we dinghied down to Baie De La Somme and trekked to Prony Village.

Ruins in the village of Prony, from when it was a timber town.

10. Isle Maitre – (on a mooring) A beautiful island with L’escapade resort on it. For $3000 per week you can stay in one of their bungalows that is built right out over the blue water. Lot’s of little fish to see when you snorkel around the moorings.

11. Baie Maa  -(anchored 5 metres of sand) Anchored at the foot of steep hills covered in thick green foliage. Mountains in the background. No-one else here.

12. Isle MBE Kouen – (Anchored in 7 metres sand) The clearest blues water I have ever seen in my life. Looking at our anchor 7 metres down and I could almost read the brand.  Small little Island with a beach and a large fringing reef of pretty coral and lots of small fish.